The operation stems from a criminal investigation launched in 2020 into a suspected organised crime group accused of large-scale cocaine trafficking and laundering illicit proceeds through investments in Albania.

At special prosecutors’ request, the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime ordered the detention of 10 Albanian nationals. Authorities are also seeking two additional suspects believed to be in Albania, while seven others under investigation are thought to be abroad.

According to prosecutors, the network operated between 2019 and 2021 across Latin America, Brazil, Belgium and the Netherlands, and is suspected of trafficking at least 50 tonnes of cocaine.

Investigators said evidence gathered during the probe linked the group to five major cocaine shipments, involving a total of nearly nine tonnes of the drug seized by law enforcement authorities.

SPAK alleges that proceeds from the trafficking operation were transferred to Albania largely in cash before being invested in real estate, corporate holdings and businesses, mainly in the construction, hospitality and consultancy sectors, in an effort to conceal their criminal origin.

The Special Court also ordered the preventive seizure of 491 movable and immovable assets allegedly owned directly or indirectly by the suspects under investigation.

The court also ordered the preventive seizure of assets allegedly linked to the suspects, including company shares and 266 properties such as land, hotels, apartments and parking facilities located in Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Lezha, Shkodra, Himara and Saranda.

/u.sh/